NAACP Supports Legislation to End Intimidating and Deceptive Practices in Federal Elections

THE ISSUE

Unfortunately, some people are so desperate to win elections
that they resort to deceptive practices ?misinformation and lies ?
to try to keep legitimate voters away from the polls or to support
candidates whom they might not otherwise vote for. It is even more
unfortunate that these practices often target and exploit
vulnerable populations, such as racial or ethnic minorities, the
disabled and / or the poor.

To address these undemocratic, disenfranchising and immoral
activities, Senators Obama (IL), Schumer (NY) and others have
introduced S. 453, the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation
Prevention Act, and Congressmen Emanuel (IL), Conyers (MI) and
others have introduced an almost identical bill in the House (H.R.
1281). This bill seeks to address the real harm of these crimes ?
people who are prevented from voting by misinformation ? by
establishing a process for reaching out to misinformed voters with
accurate information so they can cast their votes in time. The bill
also makes voter intimidation and deception punishable by law, and
it contains strong penalties so that people who commit these crimes
suffer more than just a slap on the wrist.

Examples of malicious deceptive practices were rampant as
recently as the general election in 2006. In Orange County,
California, 14,000 Latino voters got letters in Spanish saying it
was a crime for immigrants to vote in a federal election. It didn't
say that immigrants who are citizens have the right to vote. In
Maryland, misleading fliers were handed out in predominantly
African American neighborhoods with the heading "Democratic Sample
Ballot" and photos of black Democratic leaders ? and boxes checked
off beside the names of the Republican candidates for Senator and
Governor. In Virginia, registered voters received recorded calls
that falsely stated that the recipient of the call was registered
in another State and would face criminal charges if they came to
the polls.

It is unfortunate but true that S. 453 / H.R. 1281, the
Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act needs to be passed
now, before another election comes, more lies are told and more
voters are locked out of the democratic process.